Add ODS support

[Bjwebb]

This has been identified as a need for 360Giving.

[andylolz]

ODS as an input format, output format, or both?

[andylolz]

(made a start on this at andylolz/flatten-tool@ods-support)

[Bjwebb]

ODS as an input format, output format, or both?

Ideally both.

[jpmckinney]

I see progress in #204, but as mentioned in https://github.com/OpenDataServices/flatten-tool/issues/28#issuecomment-431100622, I think it's better to solve conversion with separate tools (which already exist for conversion between common tabular formats), rather than have it become flatten-tool's responsibility.

[robredpath]

@jpmckinney I think the intention here is to facilitate use of .ods files instead of .xlsx files, and conversion of both to JSON (or vice-versa) rather than conversion between the two flat types.

If someone wanted to publish using an open flat format (ie, .ods), we don't want to discourage that by requiring that they first convert to a less-open format before they can use our tooling.

However, given the advanced age of this issue and lack of progress, I don't think it's going to be a priority.

[andylolz]

less-open format

Happy to be corrected… But I’m not sure XLSX is actually a less-open format https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Office_Open_XML_and_OpenDocument

[jpmckinney]

Conversion would just be running one command before the flatten-tool command, which I don't think is a big enough barrier to discourage users. For LibreOffice users:

libreoffice --convert-to xlsx filename.ods

Or:

libreoffice --convert-to ods filename.xlsx

[Bjwebb]

@andylolz The standardisation of OOXML was very controversial at the time. e.g. https://arstechnica.com/uncategorized/2008/10/norwegian-standards-body-implodes-over-ooxml-controversy/ Many considered the spec large and bloated, and difficult to implement, and Microsoft Office's XLSX files don't necessarily follow exactly what it says.

[stevieflow]

In terms of input format , then ods is a standard adopted by UK Gov (alongside 360, IATI & OCDS!) - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/open-standards-for-government/sharing-or-collaborating-with-government-documents - which is a driver to this issue

[Bjwebb]

Write tests for flatten-tool .ods support + merge + deploy to CoVEs

[Bjwebb]

We now have .ods support.

[robredpath]

We now have .ods support.

🎉